Personalization of fast conduction Purkinje system in Eikonal-based electrophysiological models with optical mapping data

We present a pipeline for the personalization of model-based Purkinje fast conduction system using fast electrophysiological models and optical mapping data acquired from ex-vivo porcine hearts. The regional density of the Purkinje terminals as well as the latest endocardial activation time were the parameters personalized in an iterative procedure maximizing the similarity between the outcome of the electrophysiological simulations and measurements obtained from optical mapping data. We used a fast wave-front Eikonal-based electrophysiological model that generated the depolarization time maps that were subsequently compared with measurements at each iteration of the optimization stage. The pacing site given by the experimental data and the optimized Purkinje system were introduced into the electrophysiological model. We obtained a regional distribution of Purkinje end-terminals in agreement with findings in the literature. Nevertheless, remaining differences between simulations and measurements after personalization suggest that epicardial data obtained from optical mapping data might not be sufficient to optimize the Purkinje system, which is basically located at the endocardium. On the other hand, the developed pipeline could also be used with endocardial data on electrical activation provided by non-contact or contact mapping system.